Sustainable living is deeply rooted in Catholic social teaching and the mission of DeSales University. Prudence, poverty, and the Common Good guide our environmental stewardship efforts within the DeSales community.

Meeting Schedule

Constructions and Buildings

Gambet CenterThis new building project is currently under construction. DeSales has adopted a green building policy, with the intent of meeting LEED silver certification standards with all new major construction and renovations

McSheaWhile renovating the current McShea Student Center, the project team made a conscious decision to use many products that can be repurposed around campus when the facility is replaced. Estimates show that 75 percent of the renovation costs were spent on materials that will be able to be repurposed.

Dining

CompostingAn initiative to compost our pre-consumer food kitchen waste was started in November 2011. Currently only the pre-consumer kitchen waste is collected from the University Center Food Court. Our kitchen waste is picked up by a recycling company and taken to Rodale Farms, Emmaus, PA where it is added to the compost pile and returned to the earth.

We hope to grow the composting program to include post-consumer food waste from the University Center as well as other dining locations on campus. We are currently evaluating if we can eliminate a dumpster down the line and the future possibility of establishing a composting operation on the campus.

Trexler Library
Completed a full retrofit of the entire building (over 500 fixtures) during 2011, which reducing energy consumption by over 50 percent.

Outdoor Lighting
Adopted standards for high efficiency LED lighting and implementing a phased retrofit of existing fixtures.

Billera Hall Lighting
Completed engineering and design to retrofit the interior lighting and initiated installation in a phased-approach.

Building Automated Control System
This system allows remote monitoring and correction as well as the identification of proactive repairs to equipment not operating at proper levels. All campus buildings will be on this system by the end of 2012.

EPA’s Portfolio Manager
This management tool is used to track energy and water consumption in university buildings compared to similar buildings nationwide to identify underperforming buildings.

Conservation Competition
Residence Life sponsors a water and energy conservation competition in the residence halls. The hall with the highest percentage of reduction in water and energy usage per occupant is awarded a prize.

Landscaping and Grounds

Created over 3,000 square feet of new landscaping on campus using native plantings.

Planted more than 150 new trees over the past 3 years.

Eliminated mowing in detention and infiltrations basins.

Re-used soil from construction projects to turn three previously unusable areas into athletic fields and open space, in support of health lifestyles.

Transportation

Bike Racks
Bicycle racks have been installed at all university buildings to encourage student to reduce the use of cars on campus.

Electric Vehicle
The University is purchasing two electric vehicles during 2012 to replace gas-powered trucks and vans as part of its sustainability efforts. The zero-emission vehicles are manufactured by Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) ® and are charged by plugging into 220-volt outlets in the evening during nonpeak times. Known as low speed neighborhood electric vehicles, they travel at a maximum speed of 25 mph and can be driven on public roads.

Single Stream Recycling

During the fall of 2010, DeSales University implemented a campus-wide, single-stream recycling program through a partnership with Waste Management. Single-stream recycling allows newspaper, paper, magazines, cardboard, and other recyclable products to be placed in containers directly with traditional co-mingled recyclables (glass, plastic, aluminum). Single-stream recyclables are then transported to a recycling plant where they are sorted on site. The implementation of single-stream at DeSales has already resulted in significant overall reductions in waste produced and cost for waste removal.

Not sure what to put in the recycling bins in your residence hall, classroom, or office area? Find out more about what items can be recycled using single-stream recycling. Please remember not to place food waste (or items with significant food residue) into recycling at risk of contaminating other recyclables. Bottles should be emptied of liquids before placing them in recycling containers.

Water Conservation

Installed low-flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets in all residence halls. Resulted in reduced potable water consumption across the campus for five straight years

Installed energy efficient water coolers with filling stations at strategic locations across campus to discourage the use of bottled water.

Installed a 525 square foot rain garden to collect runoff as part of a post-construction stormwater management plan.

Green Initiatives

DeSales has put in place a number of green initiatives to educate the campus community, conserve energy and natural resources, and to consider our environmental impact in the master planning process.

Single-Stream Recycling

During the fall of 2010, DeSales University implemented a campus-wide, single-stream recycling program through a partnership with Waste Management. Single-stream recycling allows newspaper, paper, magazines, cardboard, and other recyclable products to be placed in containers directly with traditional co-mingled recyclables (glass, plastic, aluminum). Single-stream recyclables are then transported to a recycling plant where they are sorted on site. The implementation of single-stream at DeSales has already resulted in significant overall reductions in waste produced and cost for waste removal.

Not sure what to put in the recycling bins in your residence hall, classroom, or office area? Find out more about what items can be recycled using single-stream recycling. Please remember not to place food waste (or items with significant food residue) into recycling at risk of contaminating other recyclables. Bottles should be emptied of liquids before placing them in recycling containers.

Living More Sustainably

Every day, whether at home or on campus, there are many things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Living more sustainably begins with your own mindset and awareness of your daily living habits. A commitment to change small behaviors is the next step. Once you start making these simple actions part of your daily routine, you will find that they become natural for you. You may even find a calling to take an active role in larger campus green efforts.

Here are some suggestions for easy ways to do your part:

Energy Conservation

Turn off the lights when you leave your room

Turn off lights in your lounge/trash room/laundry room when unoccupied

Turn off common area TVs if they are not being used

Use energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs

Keep your refrigerator full

Unplug all appliances and electronics when not in use

Use rechargeable batteries for all battery-powered items

Keep your room a few degrees cooler in winter or warmer in summer

Use surge protection strips on all appliances

Shut down your computer when not in use, or at least hibernate

Clean out your dryer's lint trap with each use

Water Conservation

Don't let the shower run longer than needed to become warm

Reduce your time in the shower by a few minutes

Limit the water flow/shower pressure if possible

Don't let the water run when brushing your teeth

Intentionally limit your use of bottled water

Get a water filter/Brita pitcher and reusable cups for your room

Fill up your reusable water bottle at our filtered water coolers/fountains

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Actively sort your recyclables into single-stream recycling bins

Buy only green or recycled products

Reuse items for new purposes

Consider trading or donating items you no longer need

Think before you print – if you already have an electronic copy, don't print another

Set your printer to double-sided printing

Don't drive on campus, to class, or the DUC

Share a ride if you are going off-campus

Use a bike to get around campus quickly and easily

Use re-usable grocery bags for shopping and other purposes

Use your flex for a reusable to-go container at the DUC

Get a set of reusable plates, cups, and utensils for your room

Buy only used textbooks and sell them back to the Campus Store

Get room decorations and furniture at the thrift store or from a friend who is graduating

We can all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce DeSales' overall campus impact on the environment.

Awards & Recognition

DeSales was reognized by the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGRBC) as the 2011 Lehigh Valley Green Campus Sustainability Award Winner during a special ceremony in November 2011. Special thanks to DeSales Facilities Services and the Campus Environment Committee for making this award possible.

DeSales University is a member of the PPL Energy-Smart Business Honor Roll, which recognizes the businesses and institutions that have participated in E-power programs.